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Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Modeling Spontaneous Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma mRCC in Mice Following Nephrectomy
Published on: April 29, 2014
Percutaneous microwave ablation for local control of metastatic renal cell carcinoma
Kimberly A Maciolek1, E Jason Abel2,3, Sara L Best2
1University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, E3/376 Clinical Science Center, Madison, WI, 53792, USA.
Purpose:
The purpose of the article is to evaluate the safety and oncologic efficacy of microwave ablation for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC).
Materials And Methods:
From September 2011 to December 2016, 33 mRCC were ablated in 18 patients using percutaneous microwave ablation. Sites of mRCC include retroperitoneum (n = 12), contralateral kidney (n = 6), liver (n = 6), lung (n = 5), adrenal gland (n = 5). Technical success, local, and distant tumor progression, and complications were assessed at immediate and follow-up imaging. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for survival analysis.
Results:
Technical success was achieved for 33/33 (100%) mRCC tumors. Ablation provided durable local control for 28/30 (93%) mRCC tumors in 17 patients at a median duration of clinical and imaging follow-up of 1.6 years (IQR 0.7-3.6) and 0.8 years (IQR 0.5-2.7), respectively. In-hospital and perioperative mortality was 0%. There were 5 (15%) procedure-related complications including one high-grade event (Clavien-Dindo III). Four patients have died from mRCC at a median of 1.3 years (range 0.7-5.1) following ablation. Estimated OS (95% CI number still at risk) at 1, 2, and 5 years were 86% (53-96%, 11), 75% (39-92%, 8), and 75% (39-92%, 3), respectively.
Conclusions:
Microwave ablation of oligometastatic renal cell carcinoma is safe and provides durable local control in appropriately selected patients.
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